The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-19
He Is Determined Not to Resign Ills Position
He Comedies the Right of Employers to
Hire and Discharge Whom They Please,
And He Thinks the General Master Work.
man Should Select His Own Cabinet.
On Omission that May Cause Strike in the
Amalgamasad Association-The Meeting
ofthe State Miners Executive Board.
MIR. POwDERLY.

The General Master Workman Talks ON .
Great Variety of Topics.
Philadelphia Special to New York Herald.
II will favor an open convention at Minneap'
oils in October, y said General Master Workman
Powderly before leaving the city for western
Pennsylvania last evening.
II believe an open convention will result In
much good to the order. It will have tendency
to inspire the confidence of the public, and show
that the order is not ashamed of public scrutiny.
If the gentlemen Of the press could see for
themselves what sort Of proceedings are C. -ried
on in the general conventions l am satisfied
they would be astonished at the character OF
the reports that have heretofore been made
concerning those proceedings. The order has
grown to such proportions that it is really
pity it's transactions, if they must be reported,
should be reported upon second and third hand
information and very often upon thoroughly
eroundless rumors. believe we would be prop
erly reported and that there would be less COM
plant of injustice and untruth If we had the
reporters the floor. And l also believe IT
this privilege were accorded them they would
credit us with holding conventions that compare
favorably in the decorum observed and the in
intellectual ability Of the members with those
of any organization in the world"
"Do you propose to resign your Office in Oc-
tober2"
sEmphatically, no. Not unless the conven-
ton desires it. say mo- because it is m, duty
to the order to serve out the term for which
was elected. was elected to do certain work
and am trying to do it. It is not completed.
and so long as I have the health and strength to
keepit will do 80. Perhaps If consulted my
own interests would resign, andit is a sense of
duty only that holds me to the office. Instead
of being an autocrat in the place am really and
practically the creature OF every man and wom-
an in the order who wants to find fault with
me. The letters that I receive daily that have
to be answered carefully and intelgently would
crush an ordinary business man. That is not
said realistically, bat I cite it of the
things showing how active and attentive gen
erai master workman of the Knights of Labor
has to be. The clerical work put upon him is of
itself more than any one man should be expected
to perform. 1t is only because of long expert
ence and carefully trained acquaintance with
the machinery OF the order that am able to
keep MP with it. In the face of sil this the gen.
eral master workman must think for the order
and study the various phases of the great prob
lens of the day. He must keep posted on the
events. not only in labor, but all other circles,
and ne must endure the criticisms that invaria-
bly, roll in after every act and official Inference.
It requires man Of iron nerve, and am not
willing to admit that my nerve is sufficiently
strong to stand the pressure more than one term.
''Should leave the Office to-day feel could
be of as much service to the order as / have
ever been before. would aid and strengthen
my successor gladly and willingly-for he would
need cheerful. willing and unselfsh assistance
and would devote myself to literary work In
the interest of at least two great questions in
the characterization and temperance. / would
require every man, woman and child to learn to
-l,s>
people do not understand even these three rudi-
mentary branches of learning is a shame and
disgrace But there is no disgrace deeper and
more marked than the disgrace that hovers
around the drunkard They impose upon in
the order, They bring on trouble between en-
ployers and honest workingmen. They go TO
work drunk, are discharged, and, SOLDERING up
they appear before their assemblies and
present their grievances But the one side is
heard aud the complainant seems to be much
abused man. Are we justified in keeping such
impostors with us2 Can we excuse men who
wilfully neglect their duty employees and as
wiifully delude their brother workmens Yet
myself am called upon frequently to take hand
in the settlement of labor troubles attributed to
this cause. Recently / had occasion to inter
1ere In dispute of large proportions. wherein
the hands thought to sustain one OF their num-
Der who had been discharged. He had repre-
sented himself a badly treated man. and had
SO worked upon the feelings of his fellows that
they supported him at sacrifice of work and
pay. What did he do to cause discharged BE
went to the workshop drunk. He hung his hat
w III strange place, apu 1t teiI uOWn INTO tuO
of valuacle liquid, spelling it. Was that good
case to make a fight ONT 1 think not"
While Mr.. Powderly was speaking drunken
man tottered down the other side Of the street
and passed by the door of house in which
small watch dog sat upright. Look" said he,
there is a good case in point A strong, able
brute instincts. Which is the more valuable at
this timef say the dog Lacking human in
teigence. he sits there guarding the house he
Is watchful of his own safety and of the safety
OF much valuable property He is alert and
ready TO protect both. The man is not only be-
reft OF his senses, but he could not watch any
tniDg hs could not even protect himself IL he
tried. His intellectual or physical attainments
would not at this time avail him anything
against the dog.
''As have said before the rum habit is one
OF our greatest enemies. and until GET 1t
under control we will have uphill struggle TO
sustain our principles. deny that
tocrat but in one thing / wish / could be. II
nv word should be law there would be no more |
intemperance and with no more intemperance
there would soon be fewer labor troubles"
DO you concede the right of an employer to I
employ and discharge whom he pleases7n
I do know there are many in the order
who do not This has been of the knottiest |
Questions We have had to contend with, but it is
now being universally admitted to be just If |
l was an employer can see how l would strive |
10 make the most money out of the |
work done by my employees With my |
present feeling toward working men, 1 |
natural to desire to control the business and |
make IL pay Thus far can go in fairness to /
the other side; but when employers turn mon |
oposts and compel workmen to stay in their /
employ at an numerically low compensation, or |
oid them accept the other acknowledgements
tion. must object and must all other |
slbe men. Because in attempting to reach a |
FAIR conclusion look at botn sides OF labor /
Question, am very often charged with favoring +
the capitalists Such accusations, however, are
not only untrue but ridiculousiy unreasonable.
man who does not understand the position OF /
his antagonist fights from his stand point /
bDndiy. aud with no iaoa of the power opposing
him.
DO you favor the master workman selecting |
bis own cabinet and conducting executive busi- !
ness OF the order after the manner OF the Presi- |
dent cf the United Statesfp
IF It would lessen the duties of the general